Tone modifying apparatus



Jan. 3, 11339. A, FUSCH, "2,142,391

TONE MODIFYING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1937 INVENTOR aflarr/o Fuse/71 ATTORNEY I Patented no.3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TONE MODIFYING APPARATUS Antonio Fuschi, New York, N. Y.

Application February 25, 1937, Serial No. 127,711

3 Claims.

This invention relates to instrumentalities for reproducing sound and has as its object to provide an instrument whereby the tonal pitch and timbre of sound imparted by a piano may be varied in volume and intensity.

A further feature is in the provision of means whereby the sound from a-variety of different musical instruments may be harmoniously blended and correctly rendered, either direct or through a radio apparatus.

Another aim is to provide an apparatus, the tone range of which is at least equal to that of the human voice and all ordinary musical instruments.

A further purpose is to produce an electrically actuated device having the foregoing features, that can be used as an entity, or combined with any conventional type of piano.

These and other advantageous objects are accomplished by the novel construction, combi nation and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, constituting an essential component of this disclosure, and in which:

Figure l is a partial plan, partial sectional view of an embodiment of the invention, parts I of a piano being in perspective.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken through the body of the instrument as shown in Figure 1.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 designates a base plate having near its ends raised bearing blocks l6 and I1, respectively right and left.

A conical bearing sleeve I8 is clamped tightly in the block I! by its cap and fixed in the sleeve is an opaque'tube I9 extending through to the bearing in the block l5.

A transparent cylinder 20, has fixed in its ends discs 2| and 22, the latter having its hub rotatably engaged on the sleeve |8, while the disc 2| is similarly mounted on a conical sleeve 23 on the tube l9, the cylinder being adjusted to properly lit by nuts 24 screw threaded on the tube IS.

The hub of the disc 2| is elongated to receive the sleeve and is grooved to act as a pulley for a belt '25 trained thereover and driven by the pulley 26 of an electric motor2l, so as to rotate the cylinder 20.

In addition to the take-up features of the conical sleeves l8 and 23, by which the cylinder is held revolubly, but free from end play or looseness, a pair of rolls in are pressed against the end portions of the periphery of the cylinder,

these rolls being mounted in the raised ends of levers 3| fixed on a shaft 52 journalled in bracket bearings 33 secured to the base plate l5, tension springs 34' drawing the lever carried rolls against the cylinder. 5 The levers 3| are rigidly connected by. a bar fl-extending therebetween, one end of the bar being provided with a knob actuated detent 35, normally drawn inwardly by a compression spring 35, causing the detent to engage selecl0 tively with the spaces of a rack 31 held by a bracket 35 to the base plate l5.

Another bar 40 is supported by angle brackets 4| adjustably attached to the levers 35', this bar carrying electric light'bulbs' 42 which register 15 with lenses 43 set in the bar 34; thus it will be seen that any movement of the rolls 30 is transmitted to the lights and lenses without relative movement between them.

Arranged on the cylinder 25 are a series of 20 encircling bands 45, each band consisting of a strip of sound film, carrying tones, those at one end corresponding to the vowel sounds a, e, i, o, u, followed by the tones of a violin flute and human voice, and then repeated throughout the length 25 of the cylinder.

It may be noted that the notches or spaces between the teeth of the rack 3| degree in spaced relation with the bands 45 and that eight constitute a set, after which the next set is a half 80 tone higher progressively, furthermore the lights and lenses are centered on the selected film record by shifting the detent 35 in accordance with requirements.

Returning to the opaque tube IE, it will be 55 seen to have a single longitude slot 46, and housed axially in the cylinder is a transparent glass tube 41, constituting one of the members of a photo-electric cell, held stationary and provided with a cap 48 having electric connections 49 40 and 50 leading to an amplifier 5| which is connected by conductors 52 and 53 with a loud speaker 54, the light passing through the lens, film record and slotted tube, causing vibration of the electric cell.

If desired the conductors 49-5ll may be con nected directly to any conventional type of radio instrument, parts 5| to 54 being eliminated.

As illustrated, the entire apparatus, except the last named elements, may be installed within the 50 housing of a piano, as indicated by the fragments of a key-board having keys 55 and 56. In this case an electrical current, supplied by conductor 60, has branches 5| leading to the light bulbs 42, return current being led by conductor 52 I5 to spring contacts ll secured on a bar Bl oi insulating material supported over the rear ends oi the piano keys, which are pivoted, as at 85.

The bar 84 rests on a conductor bar 80 having a return conductor 67.

The spring contacts it are curved into a generally U shape, their lower elements extending under the conductor bar 86 in normal spaced relation to it.

Posts 68 extending upwardly from the rear end of each piano key, carry at their upper ends pressure elements 69. adapted, when the key is depressed as in playing the instrument, to impinge on the lower member of the corresponding contact, causing it to rise and engage the conductor bar 88, thus completing an electric circuit whereby the corresponding bulb glows and light is.

transmitted through the lens alined with it, thence through the sound record against which the lens is directed, to cause light to pass through the slot 46 in the tube 99, upon the photo-electric cell element 81.

Thus it will be obvious that any key depressed will evoke a corresponding note and that the same may be sustained indefinitely long, until the key is released. The arrangement and position of the bars -5S relative to the piano keys may be varied at will, it being required'only that any key depressed will operate to form an electric contact.

Due. tothe set of 8 record bands, the sound produced may be greatly modified in its tonal qualities according to such as are selected, and which embrace a range of many string and wind instruments and human voices, the piano being played in the usual manner.

Although the foregoing is descriptive of the best known embodiment of the invention, it is not to be regarded as limitative of the same as changes and modifications may be made within the scope and tenor of the. appended claims.

Having thus described the invention and set forth the manner of its construction, purpose and use, what is claimed as new and sought to secure I by Letter Patent, is:-

l. A symphonic musical instrument comprising a plural series of imperforate endless film bands auaaoi bearing sound and pitch records, a rotatable transparent cylinder on which said bands are mounted in iiuxtaposition, lens concentrating light rays onselected bands, means to adjust said lens selectively from-one bend to another, a photO-electric cell fixed axially within said cylinder, resilient means to maintain said lens at a definite distance from said cylinder irrespective oi imperfections thereon,- and a sound producing instrumentality actuable by said cell.

2. In a tone modifying apparatus comprising a transparent cylinder having a plurality of endless imperiorate record illm bands disposed in juxtaposition thereon in groups of eight, each group containing the vowel sounds a, e, i, o, u, a violin, flute and voice respectively. sdiacent groups umform therewith and varying in pitch, a photoelectric cell disposed centrally within said cylinder, a slotted opaque guard therefor, a series of electric bulbs electrically energized by the keys of the musical instrument of the piano type, lens to direct light rays from said bulbs on said bands selectively, a shiitable frame c rrying said bulbs and lens, means to retain said frame when in adjustment. spring impelled lever supports for said frame, rolls on said frame impinging on said cylinder, and a sound producing device actuable by said cell.

3. In a tone modifying apparatus, a base plate, a cylinder rotatably mounted thereon, a series of sets of eight iniperforate film record bands on said cylinder, each band having identical pitches and each set modulated from adjacent sets, the cylinder and bands translucent, a photo-electric cell axially within said cylinder, a guard tube for as said cell having a single slot for the ,r e of light, sound producing means energizable by said cell, an electric light. bulb associated with each set, lens to direct rays of light therefrom to said cell, a frame carrying said light bulbs and lens, a 40 by the keys of an instrument of the piano type to 45 cause said light bulbs to glow.

N10 FD. 

